Body shops say insurance companies are skimping on repairs

The next time your car insurance company recommends an auto body shop…
THINK TWICE!

Be sure to check what type of parts are being used for your repair.

In the above video, CNN reports on the ongoing state and federal lawsuits against big insurance companies for skimping on repairs to pad their profits. When insurance companies require their preferred auto body shops use recycled, re-manufactured, or “junk” parts to fix your car, it could potentially lead to you driving an unsafe car. There are currently more than 500 auto body shops across the nation bringing this case against big insurance companies.

To learn more, watch the Below video and check out another video co

What to do after a car accident

If an accident occurs, your first responsibility afterward should be to make sure the vehicle is turned off and to check on yourself, your passengers and the other drivers involved.

Are there any injuries? Is anyone complaining of pain? Even if an injury appears minor, it’s often best to call an ambulance, as internal injuries may have occurred. Calling 911 is the recommended course of action for anything more serious than a fender bender.

After checking on everyone’s safety, administering first aid and calling emergency services if necessary, check out the accident scene. If on the highway or in a busy section of roadway, consider moving vehicles to the shoulder if it’s possible and can be done so safely, to avoid the risk of any secondary accidents from occurring.

If the vehicles are inoperable or cannot be moved safely, make sure you and other vehicle occupants are safely away from traffic. Even if it’s a minor crash, don’t assume evevrything is OK.

Additional steps to take

If you have a camera or a smartphone handy, it can be helpful to take pictures of the accident scene and any damage to the vehicles. Photographing vehicle license plates can also be easier than writing the information down.

The drivers also can make some notes and a rough drawing to explain how the accident took place. This will also help them remember certain facts later on. The notes can include the name of the street and cross street, the direction the cars were traveling and any additional information, such as signs, lights, road conditions or barriers.

Drivers need to stay at the scene until police file a complete report and ask questions. A police report is needed for legal purposes even in the case of a minor incident, since other physical or medical damage may go unnoticed during the incident. Insurance companies also will need a copy of the accident report.

Auto insurance claims

In the event of an accident, call your insurance company as soon as you can, even if the damage appears to be minor. Correctly repairing something like a scraped or cracked bumper cover can easily exceed the cost of a typical deductible.

According to BMV.org, you may need to also file a claim if your vehicle has been vandalized, stolen or damaged during a non-accident-related event.

Before calling your insurance agent, exchange insurance information with other drivers involved, if applicable, and names, addresses and phone numbers.

When you file a claim, your insurance agent will ask several questions that can be found on your insurance cards, including policy number and your end and start date with the policy. Most insurance companies offer the option of filing a claim online, on an app on your smartphone or over the phone with an insurance representative.

After all the information is exchanged, your insurance company will provide details of what you should do next, which often includes finding a body shop to get an estimate, meeting with an insurance adjuster to go over all of the facts of the case and to help determine who was at fault and discuss a cost estimate.

If your car needs to be taken to an auto body shop, it’s important to note that drivers do not have use the body shop their insurance company recommends. Any licensed body shop will know how to submit insurance claim paperwork.

 

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Auto Body Shop or Mobile Auto Repair?

Is it better to bring your car to auto body shop or get mobile collision repair?

I’m not saying that all people that offer mobile collision repair service in Columbia md are bad. I just want you to be cautious, because any time people are in a recession or the economy is going through tough times, you’ll find people preying upon those consumers looking to save a buck.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve had customers come into my Auto body & collision repair Shop  and tell me they only need a quote to get the bodywork on their vehicle Redone. When I walked out to the vehicle with the the customer so that they can point out which panel they’re looking to have repair performed, I looked at repairs that was done  and realize that the Auto Body Tech who worked on this panel most not be qualify to be called “Technician” and should not be working as such. When i ask my customer who performed this work on their vehicle? They reply with “I had a man approach me in the Walmart parking lot and told me he could save me money by him doing the auto body repair work and leaving it ready for paint”.

After  I took a few moments to gather my thoughts and told this poor customer on how poor the quality of work this certain individual has performed and they were better off not even having the work done at all. The response was the same “he told me that I was going to save a bunch of money in collision and dent repair work”.  Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth, I then show the customer that all that person did was pound out the metal and glob on a bunch of bondo filler and sand it down somewhat and spray a little bit of spray can primer.  The damage this individual did to the customer’s vehicle will actually cost more than the original damage. Instead of keeping the repair area small they consumed the entire panel obligating me to have to blend in the adjacent panels.

As oppose if they just kept the repair area small, it we could have kept the paint work small with in that same panel and avoid having to blend into the adjacent panels. These are just some of the examples that have occurred. My customer tried to get back the money that this con artist charged him and he replied “sorry no warranty available”. There’s a saying that’s very common “you pay for what you get” sometimes cheaper is not better so buyer’s beware.

Also buyer beware because once you’ve had your vehicle worked on and your not satisfied with the quality of repair that the mobile person has performed. Your insurance will not allow you to file a claim and fix it.  Your insurance will deny the claim and state that you voluntarily chose on your own to have the vehicle fixed.

Makes sure the individual you’re dealing with has a business license and is registered with the B.A.R (Bureau of automotive repair) and has some sort of insurance in the event that they damage your car or don’t repair you vehicle to your satisfaction; you have some sort of legal recourse to go after. When your  dealing with a business that is registered with the B.A.R you have the protection knowing that if that shop or business performs a poor quality repair or fraudulent repair you as a consumer can report them to the B.A.R and have them investigated. If the agent from the B.A.R finds that you have a valid claim they can require the shop or mobile repair to pay you back for your improper repair or even even fine the shop or business. Use your common sense when you deal with individual your who may look or acts suspicious your gut feeling is probably right and decline to have your repairs done.

ACI Auto Body Shop “Benefits of Waxing Your Car” 410-799-2000

Here at ACI Auto Body Shop in Columbia MD know that Not every car owner is a car enthusiast. For some buyers, a vehicle is a mere appliance. Some automobile owners may not understand why their cars need a wax finish. There are numerous reasons why all automobile owners should apply a wax finish.

Waxing a vehicle improves its looks. By waxing a vehicle, owners help provide a deep, uniform shine to the paint. Imperfections in the clear coat that commonly appear when the paint is brightly lit can disappear under the fine shine provided by the fresh wax. A healthy coat of wax can help restore the luster to an older vehicle’s paint and make it look years newer.

Columbia Auto Collision Center 410-799-2000

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MD Auto Locksmith & Home Locksmith 240-428-0281

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Maryland  Locksmith is your local locksmiths in Silver spring Rockville area, which means our locksmith Rockville services and locksmith tools, are fitted exactly for you. Our highly qualified 24 hour locksmiths team is equipped for your emergency locksmith needs as well as for your daily home security needs. Maryland Locksmith services are granted in the fields of home safety, car locksmith and commercial locksmith as well.

Want to know what we’re offering? Call on 240-428-0281

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ACI Auto Body Shop & Collision Experts Headlight Restoration Fix

Do you have trouble seeing at night while you’re driving? This may be caused do to your headlights being yellow and oxidized. The reason why this happens is cause our government is no longer requiring vehicle manufactures to apply a UV protective coating on headlights. You need headlight restoration from your local auto center like ACI Auto Body Shop & Collision Center In Columbia MD.

So when you go into your local dealer and try to get this fixed or resolved, hoping that this problem or defect will be covered under your vehicle maker’s warranty they’ll tell you that it’s common wear and tear and the dealer has to replace your headlights.

Auto Collision Headlight Restoration

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ACI Auto Body Shop and Auto Collision Experts _ 410_799-2000

Here At ACI Auto Body Shop and Auto Collision IN Columbia MD Experts we’re proud of all of our Automotive Certification, having worked hard to earn each and every one. ACI Auto Body Repair Shop is a Mercedes BMW & Lexus Certified Collision Repair Facility, and we wanted to explain what that means and how we earned our Mercedes certification.

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I Was Hit By Another Driver, What Do I Do Now?

Pull Over and Call the Police

After any accident, the first thing to do is get your vehicle off the road and in a safe area – look for a parking lot, a side street, or even the shoulder – away from other traffic. The second (and most important!) thing to do is call the police, regardless of how bad the accident is or whether or not there appears to be any damage.  Even in a minor accident, or what police call an “unreportable accident,” calling the police is a way to protect yourself because at the very least the officer will verify the personal and insurance information of each driver.  If the other driver gives you false info and you accept it and leave the scene, now you have a damaged vehicle on your hands and no idea who hit you or where to find him/her.  A few minutes spent waiting for the officer to arrive can save you from having to submit a claim with your insurance company for an accident that wasn’t your fault.

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ACI Auto Body Shop Oil Change with Our Customer Loyalty Program!

Columbia Auto Repair Shop Oil Changes

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ACI Auto Body Shop Loyalty Program – buy 4 oil changes get your 5th oil change FREE! Auto repair and auto maintenance services are not something that you can ignore, they come with the territory of owning and driving a car. And when it comes to getting repairs from oil change to an Engine or transmission replacement or auto body and collision repairs, We can do it all. There are literally hundreds of auto repair shops, making finding the right one difficult! Continue reading